Franklin County OKs funds for Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4 is expanding, thanks to the Franklin County Commissioners approving over $221,000 in funding.   

The 2.7-acre lot behind NBC4 studios sat unused for years; it now serves the local community including students and a growing community of new Americans. 

The Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) as well as NBC4 want to continue to give back as well as educate the community. This funding allows the expansion of the systems that are already in place while also adding new ones.   

“We're going to double the size of the production of the farm,” MOFC CEO Matt Habash said. “We've got more garden stocks that are going to go in, more veto boxes that are going to go in vertical grow towers where we can grow and teach people how to grow in what looks like a bunch of stack pots together, but growing, you know, on their own patio." 

The purposes of the Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4 are to bolster the local food system, increase access to locally grown produce, and support local residents. Seven years ago, a full-service grocery store less than half a mile away from the station closed. Local residents were left with limited options to find healthy, affordable food.  The urban farm combines traditional and modern agricultural techniques such as vertical growing towers, greenhouses and community garden boxes. 

One goal for this farm is to continue to fight food insecurity.  

“They're doing exactly the type of work that we hope that they would do. And when we partnered with them, it turning into a very beautiful place,” Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady said. 

It’s also about offering educational opportunities to students and those in the community. 

“It's teaching the next generation not only how to garden and farm, but it's teaching them the importance of community,” O’Grady said. “It's teaching them, it's bringing people together. Any time in this world today that we can bring more people together, it's a great thing.” 

“This really is about STEM education and science and learning,” Habash said. “There is a tremendous amount of science that goes into making sure everything is right as we're growing the food and the opportunities to learn how that impacts food and impacts what they get to eat.” 

Last year, the commissioners approved more than $181,000 in funding.   

MOFC wants to be able to produce tens of thousands of pounds worth of fresh produce each year at the Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4.